Party founded in 1929 as a merger
of the conservative and liberal parties. There have been no name
changes.

1.03 organizational
discontinuity

4, AC8

One minor split--Republican Party
split from Independence in 1953.

1.04 leadership
competition

11, AC6

Olafur Thors was premier and
leader of the party from 1940 to 1959, when he was succeeded by
Bjarni Benediktsson. Leadership is decided by small executive
board.

1.05 legislative
instability

Instability is .04,
AC9

The Independence Party exhibits
marked legislative stability with their proportion of seats
ranging only between 37 and 40 percent of the seats.

1.06electoral
instability

Instability is .04,
AC9

Legislative elections were held
in 1953, 1956, and two in 1959. The Independence Party's
proportion of the votes won was very stable, ranging between 37
percent in 1953 to 42 percent in 1956 and 1959. (in the table of
electoral data, the second election in 1959 is reported on the
line for 1960.)

Governmental Status Variables,
2.01-2.07

2.01 government
discrimination

0 for 1950-62, AC6

Government is generally neutral
towards this party though electoral law prior to 1959 favored the
progressives. Later elections showed that the law did not hurt the
Independence Party which was always the largest party.

2.02 governmental
leadership

1 out of 7 for 1950-56,
AC8

4 out of 6 for 1957-62,
AC8

Thors was prime minister from
1949 to 1950, thus inaugurating the beginning of our first time
period, and he was again prime minister from 1959 to 1962 in the
second time period.

2.03 cabinet
participation

7 out of 7 for 1950-56,
AC9

4 out of 6 for 1957-62,
AC9

The Independence Party was in a
governing coalition with the progressive party from 1950 to 1956 .
It again formed a governing coalition in 1959-62, this time with
the social democrats.

2.04 national
participation

6 for 1950-62, AC8

Electoral support from all social
groupings. Generally centered in urban areas and around the U. S.
Military base at Keflavik, though nationally
organized.

2.05 legislative
strength

Strength is .38 for 1950-56, AC9
and .39 for 1957-62, AC9

The Independence Party exhibits
marked legislative stability with their proportion of seats
ranging only between 37 and 40 percent of the seats.

2.06 electoral
strength

Strength is .39 for 1950-56, AC9
and .41 for 1957-62, AC9

Legislative elections were held
in 1953, 1956, and two in 1959. The Independence Party's
proportion of the votes won was very stable, ranging between 37
percent in 1953 to 42 percent in 1956 and 1959. (in the table of
electoral data, the second election in 1959 is reported on the
line for 1960.)

2.07 outside origin

4, AC3

Formed by former conservative and
liberal legislators. The party's leaders are now in government,
but party has always been recognized.

Issue Orientation Variables, 5.01-5.15

5.01 ownership of means of
production

1 for 1950-62, AC7

The government had already
nationalized several industries and services. The party favored
regulation of the already acquired industry, and encouraged future
private enterprise and individual initiative. It did not advocate
returning industry to private sources or cutting
subsidies.

5.02 government role in economic
planning

3 for 1950-62, AC8

Party favors government
regulation of the economy by subsidies, wage and price ceilings,
and general loans to various sectors of the economy.

5.03 redistribution of
wealth

AC1

No information.

5.04 social welfare

5 for 1950-62, AC9

Government program already in
effect is supported by party for welfare care, medical care, and
assistance to the aged.

5.05 secularization of
society

3 for 1950-62, AC9

Clergy supported by state since
97 per cent of the population belongs to state Evangelical
Lutheran Church. However, there is no compulsion and freedom of
conscience is protected.

5.06 support of the
military

5 for 1950-62, AC9

Anti-military. Favors
continuation of no armed forces.

5.07 alignment with east-west
blocs

5 for 1950-62, AC9

Favors continued membership in
NATO and accepts military base in country.

5.08 anti-colonialism

1 for 1950-62, AC9

Though once a dependency of
Denmark, Iceland now experiences the threat of foreign influence
from the U.S., which is responsible for her defenses through a
1951 agreement and which maintains a large NATO military base
there. The Independence Party was in the governing coalition when
the agreement was enacted, and it has supported the presence of
U.S. forces in Iceland.

5.09 supranational
integration

AC1

No information.

5.10 national
integration

AC1

The government has always allowed
regional--district expression, but the smallness of the country
makes most political issues national issues handled by the
coalition government representing at least two of the parties,
sometimes three, and sometimes parties of opposing or antagonistic
views. No information about this party's local autonomy
views.

5.11 electoral
participation

5 for 1950-62, AC9

Advocates maintaining universal
suffrage.

5.12 protection of civil
rights

AC1

No information.

5.13 interference with civil
liberties

3 for 1950-62, AC6

Recognizes freedom of the press
and no censorship of political matters.

5.14 / 5.15 us--soviet experts
left-right ratings

U.S. says 1,
conservative.

Soviets say, 1, represents
interests of fishing industry, shipowners, merchant and financial
circles. Also has influence among white collar workers and
segments of the working class.

Goal Orientation Variables, 6.01-6.55

6.00 open competition in the
electoral process

4 for 1950-62, AC9

Relies exclusively on open
competition.

6.10 restricting party
competition

0 for 1950-62, AC9

Does not rely on restricting
party competition

6.20 subverting the political
system

0 for 1950-62, AC9

Does not rely on subverting the
electoral system.

6.30 propagandizing ideas and
program

6.31--2, AC6. The party often
uses the media to reach people in all areas of
Iceland.

6.32, 6.33, 6.34--AC1. No
information.

6.50 providing for welfare of
party members

AC1

There is no information on this
variable beyond a broad statement that the party has supported
much social welfare legislation.

Autonomy Variables, 7.01-7.05

7.01 sources of funds

3 (sector 04), AC3

Contributions from Icelandic
contractors in 1956 apparently evidenced a continuing phenomenon.
The proportion of party funds derived from this commercial source
can only be roughly estimated.

7.02 source of
members

AC1

No information

7.03 sources of
leaders

AC1

While the foremost party leaders
come from the commercial sector, it is not possible on the basis
of the literature to identify the sectors from which other leaders
come.

7.04 relations with domestic
parties

4 for 1950-62, AC9

During the two time periods, the
Independence Party participated in governing coalitions with both
the progressives and the social democrats. There does not appear
to be any subservience or superiority attached to the coalition
members.

7.05 relations with foreign
organizations

5 for 1950-62, AC5

Of the several international
party organizations, probably the Liberal International would be
the most accommodative of the Independence Party, and it did not
belong to that group, nor to others for which membership lists
were available.

Organizational Complexity Variables,
8.01-8.07

8.01 structural
articulation

2 for 1950-62, AC3

One national organ--the party's
executive board which consists of a small group of individuals
whose leadership in general has not changed for the last 25
years.

8.02 intensiveness of
organization

5 for 1950-62, AC8.

Party has local organization
chapters in every town to control the local town councils when its
members are representatives on the council.

8.03 extensiveness of
organization

6 for 1950-62, AC6

Electoral support extends across
all economic and social groups, while the party has chapters in
every community and at the university.

8.04 frequency of local
meetings

AC1

No information

8.05 frequency of national
meetings

AC1

No information

8.06 maintaining
records

2 for 1950-62, AC5

Party publishes editorial
comments in the country's largest daily newspaper, and another
daily is controlled by commercial interests as an interest group
within the party.

8.07 pervasiveness of
organization

12 for 1950-62, AC8

Party has women's and youth
auxiliaries in every community, but it also has exclusive control
over the Icelandic contractors association--practically dual
membership in this organization.

Organizational Power Variables, 9.01-9.08

9.01 Nationalization of
Structure

6, AC9

The Social Democratic Party has a
discernible Party hierarchy in which the executive committee and
the national council act directly on the local (constituency and
county) organizations--there are no regional organizations. The
actual "power" resides in the Foketing group and decisions are
passed down through the organization by these top national
organs.

9.02 Selecting the National
Leader

4, AC7

The congress of the Social Democratic Party
elects the national chairman. However, this is in many ways more a
"ratification" of the leader chosen by the parliamentary
group--thus the "4" code. At least twice, however, The
parliamentary group has chosen as their leader the man preferred
by the previous leader.

9.03 Selecting Parliamentary
Candidates

5, AC9

Selection of parliamentary candidates for
the Social Democratic Party Is made locally but nominations must
be approved by the National Executive Comittee. Generally approval
is a mere formality and the National Executive Committee rarely
refuses to accept a candidate.

9.04 Allocating Funds

6, AC7

Although the literature is fairly explicit
on the sources of the Social Democratic Party's funds, it is vague
as to how they are distributed. Since most of the funds are
collected by the national organization, it is assumed that they
are dispensed by that organization. Lesser amounts are collected
and distributed by both the party group in the legislature and
local units. A large amount of contributions go directly into
financing the party press (from unions) and do not go directly to
the regular party organs.

9.05 Formulating Policy

5, AC5

Our consultant advises that the party
congress sets major policy lines. Between congresses, the
executive committee makes decisions on new issues. Much of the
literature, however, states that the parliamentary group
determines policy.

9.06 Controlling Communications

7, AC9

The Social Democratic Party press has its
own organization which is represented on the highest, most
influential levels of the party. The party actually owns only a
small percentage of the press which is almost completely owned by
the trade unions. The press, however, appears to serve the
purposes of the national leaders of the party, and the party and
trade union movement are organizationally interlocked in a
combined labor movement.

9.07 Administering Discipline

3, AC9

The parliamentary organization of the
Social Democratic Party administers most discipline to members.
Such discipline may include exclusion from committees or other
posts, being kept from speakerships, or loss of campaign funds.
Expulsion is possible but almost unknown.

9.08 Leadership Concentration

3, AC7

For eleven years of the time period
1950-62, the Social Democrats headed the government and the prime
minister exercised leadership effectively. Decisions were reached
after consultation, frequently with other party members, and were
discussed and ratified by top national party organs.

Coherence Variables, 10.01-10.06

10.01 legislative
cohesion

AC1

No information.

10.02 ideological
factionalism

0 for 1950-62, AC3

There seems to be no debate over
ideological concerns.

10.03 issue
factionalism

1 for 1950-62, AC3

There is a diversity of interests
in the party between fishing and commercial interests, but not
enough disagreement to cause factional tendencies.

10.04 leadership
factionalism

0 for 1950-62, AC6

Party leadership has remained the
same for 25 years.

10.05 strategic or tactical
factionalism

0 for 1950-62, AC3

There are factions along interest
lines, but not any that carry farther than debate between national
spokesmen.

10.06 party purges

0 for 1950-62, AC3

There were no party purges
mentioned in the literature.

Involvement Variables, 11.01-11.06

11.01 membership
requirements

0 for 1950-62, AC3

There seem to be no membership
requirements.

11.02 membership
participation

0 for 1950-62, AC3

There is nominal membership
participation, although party support can be determined from
election results.

11.03 material
incentives

1 for 1950-62, AC3

One group, the Icelandic
contractors association, is more militant than most members, and
its motives are strictly material, having benefited from party
policy towards the American military base.

11.04 purposive
incentives

1 for 1950-62, AC3

Some party militants are
motivated by desires to promote commercial and fishing
interests.